Groups > alt.folklore.computers > #232058

Re: alternative history 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++

From	rbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Newsgroups	alt.folklore.computers
Subject	Re: alternative history 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++
Date	2025-11-05 00:25 +0000
Message-ID	<mmvjquFp7cU3@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References	<hhq63802k7f@news7.newsguy.com> <10edc6e$3q1si$1@dont-email.me> <10edcbg$lrh1$1@dont-email.me> <20251104091939.889@kylheku.com> <10edo9c$2pa6$1@gal.iecc.com>

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On Tue, 4 Nov 2025 20:39:08 -0000 (UTC), John Levine wrote:

> According to Kaz Kylheku  <643-408-1753@kylheku.com>:
>>On 2025-11-04, geodandw <geodandw@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> The 68000 was a very nice processor for its time. It's too bad IBM
>>> didn't use it in the PC.
>>
>>That would have been so much better even if it still had had a shitty
>>CP/M-like OS with drive letter names and whatnot.
> 
> The reports I heard said that until fairly late in the design process
> that IBM PC was an 8 bit system.  Then they decided to make it a 16 bit
> system, but keep the 8 bit bus.  So they needed a 16 bit chip with an 8
> bit bus.  Intel could provide 8088 in quantity but Moto only had samples
> of the 68008, so they went with Intel.  Too bad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/23_Datamaster

Physically the System 23 was similar to its predecessor, the 5120, but was 
a completely different design. It was intended to be the starter home for 
small businesses until they moved up the ladder, therefore the $9000 cost. 
That was cheaper than the 5120 but would have floated in the 'personal 
computer' market.

I'm not sure how IBM explained to small businesses why a $1600 PC wasn't 
as good as a $9000 System 23. Businesses figured it out rapidly.

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Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2025-11-02 13:20 -0700
  OT: 2010 posts (was: Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++) Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2025-11-03 14:58 +0000
  Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2025-11-03 14:24 -0600
    Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2025-11-03 16:25 -0700
      Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-11-04 00:26 +0000
        Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-04 15:20 +0000
          Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2025-11-04 09:39 -0700
            Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-04 17:14 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-04 17:32 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-11-04 17:38 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-11-04 21:23 +0100
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-04 22:04 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-11-05 08:50 +0100
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-05 15:15 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-11-06 08:51 +0100
            Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-11-04 22:17 +0000
            Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-11-07 15:50 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-07 16:08 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-11-07 16:54 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2025-11-07 08:22 -0800
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-11-07 17:22 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-11-09 11:15 +0200
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-11-10 09:08 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-11-07 17:43 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-11-07 19:40 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2025-11-08 08:45 -0700
          Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2025-11-04 17:12 +0000
            Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ geodandw <geodandw@gmail.com> - 2025-11-04 12:15 -0500
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-11-04 17:21 +0000
                Re: alternative history 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2025-11-04 20:39 +0000
                Re: alternative history 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-11-05 00:25 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-11-04 22:19 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-11-05 00:13 +0000
              Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-11-07 16:46 +0000
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Peter Flass <Peter@Iron-Spring.com> - 2025-11-08 08:47 -0700
                Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> - 2025-11-08 21:17 +0000
          Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2025-11-04 23:26 +0000
        Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2025-11-04 08:29 -0800
    Re: 16:32 far pointers in OpenWatcom C/C++ Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2025-11-04 08:32 -0800

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